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Treatment

Q If I have a child diagnosed with H1N1, should I get Tamiflu to prevent my other children from catching it?

A Public health experts have weighed the risks and benefits in providing recommendations on the use of antivirals to prevent infection. After rigor… Read More »

Q What if another child in daycare has H1N1, would Tamiflu be recommended for prevention for all the children in daycare?

A Public health officials across Canada have agreed that treatment is recommended only for those who are ill, unless they are living in a residenti… Read More »

Q How long would my child have to take it?

A It is very important to use the medicine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. If you observe any unwanted effects from the use of Tamifl… Read More »

Q What would an "adverse reaction" look like? What do I do if my child has one?

A The most common unwanted effects are nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach and headache. People infected with the influenza virus, particularly c… Read More »

Q If there are no studies done, then how can I be assured it’s safe?

A Recently, limited data has become available on the use of Tamiflu in infants (not from formal studies but from physicians using Tamiflu in infant… Read More »

Q What studies have been done on the safety?

A At this point, there are no formal completed studies to show the safety or effectiveness of Tamiflu in the treatment or prevention of influenza i… Read More »

Q Why does the government now think that Tamiflu is safe for children under 1?

A Health Canada has reviewed the available safety data with respect to the use of Tamiflu in children under 1 year old. As there are no other produ… Read More »

Q Why wasn't Tamiflu originally recommended for children under 1?

A There were some safety concerns identified previously from the use of Tamiflu in animal studies. At that time, there was no data available to see… Read More »

Q How are antiviral medications made available if needed?

A Antiviral medications are prescription drugs. They may be obtained from a pharmacy with a regular prescription. There is a national stockpile of … Read More »

Q What if I want to use antivirals as a preventative because I’m taking care of a sick person?

A Some people are wondering if they should take antivirals to prevent them from getting sick with H1N1. This is called prophylaxis. At this point, … Read More »